November 10, 2005, London, ON

Inspiring Conservation

2005 Carolinian Canada Conservation Awards Announced

for photos of nominees and recipients, click here.

Ingersoll, Ontario   It was a moving ceremony.  A posthumous award to Arthur Teasell for a lifetime dedicated to conservation was received by his son Scott.  Teasell spent decades working patiently and with good humour to work with his community and municipal council to integrate conservation into the daily lives and environs of Sarnia residents.   Most people would not recognize his name even as they enjoy one of the wildlife sanctuaries he protected or admire a forest he helped to manage.  Teasell did not do it for recognition but for the love of nature and concern for the planet.  He is not alone.

Teasell and five other recipients and three nominees were recognized on Thursday, November 10 at the Carolinian Canada Stakeholders meeting in Elm Hurst in Ingersoll in a ceremony aptly named “Inspiring Conservation”.  From industry to schools, the awards highlight the ‘good news’ of the environmental movement.    

·       Peter Carson works tirelessly with landowners, communities and conservation allies to protect and restore green spaces in Norfolk, his home county and across the Carolinian Zone. 

·       Allan Elgar involved himself to such a degree in protecting ecological gems in Oakville that he ran and was elected city Councillor.  He has inspired other members of Oakville Greens to do the same. 

·       Pelee Island Winery grows grapes with minimal impact on the environment, a demonstration to the rest of the industry.  The business has also been a long-time supporter of conservation events and is working closely with conservation groups to steward the significant natural areas that they own.

·       Environmental Leadership Program at Elgin Secondary School is the most sought after class in the school and the students take on any conservation challenge that comes their way. They are an invaluable aid to many restoration and cleanup projects.

·       Hamilton Naturalists’ Club volunteers have worked hard over decades to fundraise, protect and steward the best remaining natural areas in their region and beyond.

Each year Carolinian Canada presents awards for conservation and education efforts related to the special natural heritage of the Carolinian zone by recognizing outstanding contributions by individuals, corporations, non-profit organizations and government organizations.

Carolinian Canada is a coalition of over public and community organizations aimed at conserving the wildlife and habitats of southwest Ontario’s Carolinian life zone — a unique ecological region lying south of Toronto and Grand Bend.  Home to Tulip Tree,  Magnolia trees, Opossum and other wildlife found nowhere else in Canada, the zone has the richest biological diversity in Canada—and the greatest number of rare and endangered species.  The Coalition committee includes representatives from conservation, stewardship, education, farming, forestry and planning groups. 

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